Complete Streets & Bikeway Committee

Middletown Complete Streets Committee June 14th, 2021 Meeting Minutes Attendees: Joe Samolis Lisa Liesener Laura Baum Beth Emery John Hall Tom Quirk Zoemma Warshafsky Dean Maroun & Trish (guests) Regional Multi-Use Trail Study: o RiverCOG is working on the application for a regional route (Airline trail - Farmington Canal Trail - Newfield Corridor Trail). Beth to send letter of support from Complete Streets and note our interest in remaining involved. Joe Samolis is managing letters coming from the City of Middletown. o The corridor study is related to the project to connect Airline Trail in Portland and Farmington Canal Trail in Cheshire. Would encompass existing Mattabesett Bike Path, Newfield Trail, and other existing trails. The route study would encompass the entire 23-mile span. Bicycle Safety: Middletown public schools received a grant for bike education to teach them how to safely ride bikes. Complete streets will try to support as needed with volunteers. Grant may not cover cost for bikes. Dean noted that Wesleyan may have bikes available (may be too big for elementary kids); Laura will check on this (bikes in the basement of Long Lane). Middletown Public Schools’ Health and Wellness Committee will meet this week and discuss the issue, Laura to attend. This effort, if successful, would be helpful in Bike-friendly City application and Sustainability CT. Quarterly meeting with Public Works coming up soon (July 7th, 10am), CS wants to have a prep meeting prior to that. Prep meeting is scheduled for June 29th at 7pm Spring Street One-way conversion: awaiting update from Joe (he had to leave meeting early) Newfield Corridor Multi-Use Trail: Mike of Malone & McBroom awaiting decision from Middletown for which side of Lawrence school the trail should go on (see photo 1). Bill Russo, PW waiting on M&M. Dean Maroun lives along the proposed route (on the original Tuttle road, first dirt road after school bus depot) and concerned about privacy and people parking in front of his house; doesn't recommend they do a cross walk across from Putter Place, too dangerous(see photo 2). City talking about having some parking at Keigwin School and maybe some of the other schools. Once designed there will be a pubkic hearing for comments of design changes. We will send Dean info on the trail plan Bike friendly Middletown Application: No updates Updates from other meetings/Groups: ECOIN: State has not voted on Bills 882 & 884 (Transportation & Climate Initiative , Emissions reduction). Just not coming up for vote; hoping it will come up this week in special session. Sustainable CT: committee is meeting with the Mayor about follow up; getting good response from Mayor Middlesex County Chamber Environment & Infrastructure Committee: Laura is still attending but there are no applicable updates River COG: Bike & pedestrian plan - first meeting tomorrow from 2-3. Will have FHI as a consultant and they welcome other attendees. Virtual meeting Page 1 of 3  Middletown Complete Streets Committee June 14th, 2021 Meeting Minutes Meeting with Durham Complete Streets last month: They were interested in reviewing plans for bike routes and multi-use trails we have planned. We put them in touch with the Jonah Center. They are moving forward on some good projects (new sidewalks). Community Bike-ride: With Connecticut mask mandate lifted CS should start planning another community bike ride; we will start talking about it at the next meeting. Page 2 of 3 Middletown Complete Streets Committee June 14th, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3